"Though 'Rock Hard' is rudimentary, it could have easily have found a place on [Licensed to Ill] - it's similar in shade and tone and uses rock samples and atmospherics to scintillating effect. There are clues as to how the band viewed themselves that seem pertinent to any discussion of the way they blended genres and attitudes to create their new aesthetic: 'I can play the drums' (Mike D), 'I can play guitar' (MCA), 'Not just b-boys but real rock stars' (Adrock) - an inversion of the actual story, perhaps, but as a joyous thrash attempting to legitimize rap in the face of music business traditionalism it works brilliantly. Lyrically it's every bit as intricate as anything anyone else was doing" - paraphrased from Rhyming & Stealing: A History of the Beastie Boys by Angus Batey, 1998

"...a distinct improvement on the minimalism of 'Cookie Puss', mixing hard hip-hop beats with rough and ready guitar riffs
lifted from AC/DC's 'Back in Black' - Record Collector, December 1998

Interesting Footnote:

Due to the use of illegal samples off of "Rock Hard," it was forced to be withdrawn from the
market.